Hairstylists at Belden Avenue salon take to the sidewalk after fire destroys workplace (map)

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NORWALK

By STEVE KOBAK

Hour Staff Writer

An early morning fire that charred a salon Tuesday at 8 Belden Ave. forced hairstylists who work at the business out on the street ... literally.

Despite lacking barbers' chairs, electric razors and many of the other tools that the salon normally uses, Lila's Beauty Salon employees cut their customers' hair on the sidewalk in front of the fire-damaged business Tuesday afternoon.

"We're trying to get our clients' phone numbers," said Massiel Castro, manager of Lila's. "It could take months until they clean out the business."

Norwalk Fire Department responded to the fire that ripped through the salon at 7:20 a.m. after a passerby reported the incident.

Smoke clouded the windows at the salon when firefighters arrived and the glass was hot to the touch, according to Deputy Chief Steven Shay.

Firefighters had to break the front door window to gain access to the business and had the fire under control 20 minutes after they arrived, Shay said.

The fire originated at one of the salon's hairdryer chairs, Shay said, but investigators still do not know how the fire started. Castro said fire officials told her that an electrical problem likely caused the fire.

Eight hours after the fire was extinguished, the smell of smoke still lingered in three businesses that neighbor Lila's, including Belden Dry Cleaners, 10 Belden Ave.

Jae Choi, owner of the dry cleaners, said the smoke affected about half of the business' nearly 10,000 clothing items. He attempted to rid the smoke smell from some of the clothes but said he does not know if he will succeed.

Choi said he will contact the company that insures Lila's to see if they cover the damage to his business.

Smoke also entered Lucky Variety Store, 6 Belden Ave., and the health department ordered them not to sell food until further notice, according to Krishna Kosury, an employee at the store.

Meanwhile, employees at Lila's will be outside of the salon today, trying to collect customer information. Lila's has been open for 10 years and has many loyal customers, Castro said.

The owners of the salon will likely look for a temporary home for the business, according to Castro.